Teach me, O Lord, your way of truth

Authors:
Themes:
Scriptures:
  • Nehemiah 10:29
  • Psalms 119:105-106
  • Psalms 119:129-132
  • Psalms 119:33-36
  • Psalms 25:4-5
  • Psalms 27:11-14
  • Proverbs 30:5
  • Proverbs 6:23
  • Ecclesiastes 12:13
Book Number:
  • 119F

Teach me, O Lord, your way of truth,
and from it I will not depart;
that I may steadfastly obey,
give me an understanding heart.

2. In your commandments make me walk,
for in your law my joy shall be;
give me a heart that loves your will,
from discontent and envy free.

3. Your word sheds light upon my path;
a shining light, it guides my feet;
your righteous judgements to observe,
my solemn vow I now repeat.

4. Your wondrous testimonies, Lord,
my soul will keep and greatly praise;
your word, by faithful lips proclaimed,
to simplest minds the truth conveys.

5. I thirst for your commandments, Lord,
and for your mercy press my claim;
O look on me and show the grace
displayed to all who love your name.

The Psalter 1912, ALT

The Bible - Enjoyment and obedience

Downloadable Items

Would you like access to our downloadable resources?

Unlock downloadable content for this hymn by subscribing today. Enjoy exclusive resources and expand your collection with our additional curated materials!

Subscribe now

If you already have a subscription, log in here to regain access to your items.

Tunes

  • Melcombe
    Melcombe
    Metre:
    • LM (Long Metre: 88 88)
    Composer:
    • Webbe, Samuel W
  • Launde
    Launde
    Metre:
    • LM (Long Metre: 88 88)
    Composer:
    • Jones, Roger

The story behind the hymn

The 1912 Psalter is the source of this more eclectic version of varied vv, this time incorporating ‘Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path’ (v105), as does the following item and also 550. It has been revised to make it usable in the 21st-c. If this hymnal is ever revised, Cowper’s version of vv 65–72 might be slipped in here; O how I love thy holy word comes in Bk 3 of the Olney Hymns rather than in the Scripture arrangement of Bk 1, but is true to its source in such lines as ‘Oh! hadst thou left me unchastised,/ thy precept I had still despised …’ PHRW has a partly-updated version; it also provides vv113–126 with Deceit and falsehood we abhor: ‘If any should pervert thy word/ we will not greet them “in the Lord

A look at the author

The Psalter, 1912

A notable landmark in the line of Scottish metrical Psalters beginning with the classic 1650 collection, which remained unchallenged for nearly a century until revisions began in 1745; the 1912 book was the last significant one of its kind before Sing Psalms qv. Nos.46A, 87, 93, 94, 111, 119C, 119F, 135, 140.